title: Significance of duodenal disaccharidases. A comparative study of duodenal and jejunal values.
abstract: Endoscopic biopsies at the inferior duodenal flexure from 36 patients were assayed for disaccharidases. Comparative studies in 8 patients were carried out from this location and from the duodenojejunal flexure. 16 patients with lactase values under 20 U/g protein and normal histology also underwent a lactose tolerance test. Evidence is presented that the easily performed duodenal biopsies give the same information as those from the angle of Treitz, at a level about 40% under the latter. Tolerance to lactose was in close relation with the lactase level in 16 patients, the limit being at about 5 U/g protein.
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D004186:Disaccharidases / Q000032:analysis*; D004386:Duodenum / Q000201:enzymology*; D004724:Endoscopy; D005696:Galactosidases / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007583:Jejunum / Q000201:enzymology*; D007789:Lactose Tolerance Test; D013393:Sucrase / Q000032:analysis; D014198:Trehalase / Q000032:analysis; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D004186:Disaccharidases; D005696:Galactosidases; D001616:beta-Galactosidase; D014198:Trehalase; D013393:Sucrase